WGU Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary Education) is a competency-based degree
program that prepares students at the graduate level both to be
licensed to teach in grades K-8 and to develop significant skills in
curriculum development, design, and evaluation. All work in this
degree program is online with the exception of the demonstration
teaching and in-classroom field experience components. Students
enter this program with a significant background in education and then
proceed through study in Foundations of Teaching, Elementary
Education Methods, Instructional Planning and Presentation and
Research Fundamentals. The program includes a supervised teaching
practicum in a real classroom and thus prepares students for initial
teacher licensure.

Foundations of Teaching

Foundational Perspectives of Education
This course provides an introduction to the historical, legal, and philosophical foundations of education. Current
educational trends, reform movements, major federal and state laws, legal and ethical responsibilities, and an overview of
standards-based curriculum are the focus of the course. The course of study presents a discussion of changes and
challenges in contemporary education. It covers the diversity found in American schools, introduces emerging educational
technology trends, and provides an overview of contemporary topics in education.

Psychology for Educators
This course prepares candidates to meet the expectations of society and prepares future educators to support classroom
practice with research-validated concepts. The course helps future educators to create a framework for refining teaching
skills that are focused on the learner, through engaged inquiry of integrating theory, critical issues in psycho

Fundamentals of Diversity, Inclusion, and Exceptional Learners
Students will learn the history of inclusion and develop practical strategies for modifying instruction, in accordance with
legal expectations, to meet the needs of a diverse population of learners. This population includes learners with
disabilities, gifted and talented learners, culturally diverse learners, and English language learners.

Classroom Management, Engagement, and Motivation
Students will learn the foundations for effective classroom management as well as strategies for creating a safe, positive
learning environment for all learners. Students will be introduced to systems that promote student self-awareness, selfmanagement,
self-efficacy, and self-esteem.

Mathematics Content

Mathematics for Elementary Educators
Mathematics for Elementary Educators III engages pre-service elementary teachers in mathematical practices based on
deep understanding of underlying concepts. The course covers important topics in statistics, measurement, and covers
geometry from synthetic, transformational, and coordinate perspectives. This is the third course in a three-course
sequence.

Instructional Planning and Presentation

Instructional Planning and Presentation in Elementary Education
Instructional Planning and Presentation assists students as they continue to build instructional planning skills. Topics
include unit and lesson planning, instructional presentation strategies, assessment, engagement, integration of learning
across the curriculum, effective grouping strategies, technology in the classroom, and using data to inform instruction.

Elementary Education Methods

Elementary Reading Methods and Interventions
Elementary Reading Methods and Interventions provides students seeking initial teacher licensure in elementary education
with an in-depth look at best practices for developing the reading and writing skills of all students. Course content
examines the stages of literacy development, the balanced literacy approach, differentiation, technology integration,
literacy-assessment, and the comprehensive Response to Intervention (RTI) model used to identify and address the needs
of learners who struggle with reading comprehension. This course has no prerequisites.

Application of Elementary Social Studies Methods
Application of Elementary Social Studies Methods helps students learn how to implement effective social studies
instruction in the elementary classroom. Topics include social studies themes, promoting cultural diversity, integrated social
studies across the curriculum, social studies learning environments, assessing social studies understanding, differentiated
instruction for social studies, technology for social studies instruction, and standards-based social studies instruction. This
course helps students to apply, analyze, and reflect on effective elementary social studies instruction.

Application of Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Methods
Application of Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Methods helps students learn how to implement effective visual and
performing arts instruction in the elementary classroom. Topics include integrating arts across the curriculum, music
education, visual arts, dance and movement, dramatic arts, differentiated instruction for visual and performing arts, and
promoting cultural diversity through visual and performing arts instruction. This course helps students to apply, analyze,
and reflect on effective elementary visual and performing arts instruction.

Application of Elementary Physical Education and Health Methods
Applications of Elementary Physical Education and Health Methods helps students learn how to implement effective
physical and health education instruction in the elementary classroom. Topics include healthy lifestyles, student safety,
student nutrition, physical education, differentiated instruction for physical and health education, physical education across
the curriculum, and public policy in health and physical education. This course helps students to apply, analyze, and reflect
on effective elementary visual and performing arts instruction.

Effective Teaching Practices

Elementary Disciplinary Literacy
Elementary Disciplinary Literacy examines teaching strategies designed to help learners in grades K–6 develop the literacy
skills necessary to read, write, and think critically while engaging content in different academic disciplines. Course content
highlights strategies to help learners distinguish between the unique characteristics of informational texts while improving
comprehension and writing proficiency across the curriculum. Strategies to encourage inquiry and cultivate skills in critical
thinking, collaboration, and creativity also are addressed. This course has no prerequisites.

Preclinical Experiences

Preclinical Experiences in Elementary Education
Preclinical Experiences in Elementary Education provides students the opportunity to observe and participate in a wide
range of in-classroom teaching experiences in order to develop the skills and confidence necessary to be an effective
teacher. Students will reflect on and document at least 75 hours of in-classroom observations. Prior to entering the
classroom for the observations, students will be required to meet several requirements including a cleared background
check, passing scores on the state or WGU required basic skills exam and a completed resume.

Research

Research Foundations
The Research Foundations course focuses on the essential concepts in educational research, including quantitative,
qualitative, mixed, and action research; measurement and assessment; and strategies for obtaining warranted research
results.

Demonstration Teaching

Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education
Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education involves a series of classroom performance observations by
the host teacher and clinical supervisor that develop comprehensive performance data about the teacher candidate’s skills.

Teacher Performance Assessment in Elementary Education
The Teacher Performance Assessment is a culmination of the wide variety of skills learned during your time in the Teachers
College at WGU. In order to be a competent and independent classroom teacher, you will showcase a collection of your
content, planning, instructional, and reflective skills in this professional assessment.

Professional Portfolio
You will create an online teaching portfolio that includes professional artifacts (e.g. resume and Philosophy of Teaching
Statement) that demonstrate the skills you have acquired throughout your Demonstration Teaching experience.

Cohort Seminar
Cohort Seminar provides mentoring and supports teacher candidates during their demonstration teaching period by
providing weekly collaboration and instruction related to the demonstration teaching experience. It facilitates their
demonstration of competence in becoming reflective practitioners, adhering to ethical standards, practicing inclusion in a
diverse classroom, exploring community resources, building collegial and collaborative relationships with teachers, and
considering leadership and supervisory skills.